For as long as I can remember at least one dog or cat has been a part of my extended family. Someone, aunt & uncle, grandparent, had a dog. They were an unusual bunch if put together but each was well loved.

I came home from camp one year to find an almost brand new pup had taken up residence at my home, too. Almost Brand New because she had been at the house for several days…long enough to earn the name “Snooper” which, of course, became “Snoopy”. While she wasn’t ‘my’ dog we spent a lot of time together.

Let’s just say I’ve been blessed to have had the company of a lot of dogs and cats.

Now I don’t know about you but I have encountered quite the array of intelligence (and whimsy) when it comes to both cats and dogs. My aunt’s house had the carpeted living room next to the linoleum kitchen floor which led to a small breakfast nook. Straight line. Her small mixed breed dog delighted in taking off from the far end of the living room, running at full speed to the kitchen door and sliding across the linoleum until he literally banged into the far wall. Repeatedly.

I’ve been watching Sitting With Dogs for years now. Rocky & his team are amazing as are the teams at the shelters he visits. There are a lot of good people out there who want to help these animals (dogs and cats) find their forever homes.

Mia’s story started last November but by Christmas so much had changed. Check it out:

I have to say I find it odd, if not somewhat amusing, that folks don’t realize that these are sentient animals. They think, they feel, they are not the same as your sofa or your favorite chair. The other thing that seems to be a surprise is that while they can’t speak a Human language, they do learn to understand it.

Think about it, you learned to speak your original language by listening to the people around you. Same with animals. It isn’t just the sound of the voice that gives them information it is the words and their association that they have learned.

I won’t lie, Mia’s story brought tears to my eyes. The right family reached out. The shelter was able, not just willing, to work with them to get Mia to her new home. Mia is living her best life with many years to spend with her family. Win/Win if you ask me.

Please check out Rocky Kanaka’s channel and his website. Subscribe because that helps in ways you can not imagine. Or maybe you can.

In the meantime, let’s celebrate Mia’s Pupdate!

Or someone shares their adventures with you

My former local weather person is a young man of intense interest in many, many things. Even after he left television weather for less stressful pastures, he still keeps an eye out on the daily weather and updates his followers accordingly. He thinks a lot about a lot of things. He loves to travel. He is passionate about many things. His family are his anchor. Garrett is one of those folks who loves life and has found a way of sharing that.

He recently posted on social media about a trip he took with his family to Greece. You have to read it to believe it. Click HERE to read his Substack post, complete with pictures. I’m not sure if he or his wife took the photos, but they are amazing, too!

I read this early on Easter morning and I have to say that it stayed with me all day, in fact for many days. I hope you enjoy it as I have.

Recently I’ve found myself actively seeking old favorites. Food. TV shows. Audio Books. Music. Things that connect me, ground me.

I grew up watching Raymond Burr, especially Perry Mason. There is something calming and steady about watching Perry, Paul & Della work their way through a mystery.

From there I headed off to Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe. I’ve watched endless Marlowe films and listened to loads of Old Time Radio shows. In my audio book collection is the complete works of Chandler’s sleuth. What I have is a BBC full cast production which has been a joy to listen to. The movie plays in my head as I listen to the story unfold.

By the way, I strongly urge you to listen to a full cast version of any audio production for the sheer pleasure of it.

In the kitchen I have been perusing classic comfort foods; roast chicken, pasta dishes, brownies. One of my very favorite chicken recipes combines chicken breasts with olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper roasted with potatoes in the same seasoning. Heaven!

While I did ask if you were <cough> over chocolate recently, I think we both know that that never lasts long. Hence the brownies. 😀

What are you revisiting these days? Something you haven’t indulged in for a long time? Let me know in the comments.

Over the past year or so I have been following along with a couple of YouTube channels and a Substack page that focus on different experiences. One deals with aging, another looks at the concept of being an introvert and a third looks at living a vintage life. It is an odd combination for sure.

Silver and Solo focuses on the joys and adventures of being solo while also addressing being a senior. For some the idea of being on their own at any age is unsettling, for others it is a joy. The idea of living a full life on your own might be familiar territory or it could be very disconcerting. I think Jen provides some valid POV as well as food for thought.

Real Vintage Dolls House not only takes a look back at 1940s Britain but offers a perspective on living an intentional life today using the, for lack of better words, tips and tricks of the time. There is a lot to be said about living a vintage inspired life. Hannah touches on some interesting food for thought.

Over on Substack, Diana from Healthy Seniors looks at a variety of issues and experiences for those who are no longer under 60. Her articles are thoughtful, inspired, interesting, and provide not only useful information but a lot of food for thought.

I don’t know about you but I find myself encouraged, not to mention enabled, by new ideas about old things (like me). It is almost like giving myself permission to move forward.

Check them out and see what you think.

Surely I can’t be the only one enjoying the Olympics? Granted, I am watching via Peacock and that has taken some getting used to…and I’m pretty sure I’ve missed some things…

I am particularly fond of skating so I’ve been focusing on those programs.

I’m always amazed at the beauty of the work on the ice. They make it look so effortless but we all (should) know just how physically demanding these programs are. The costumes add another layer of awe.

I was astonished, not to mention thrilled, to see Scott Hamilton contribute his thoughts. Always a favorite on and off the ice.

As I watched the various programs I found myself thinking back to other Olympics I’ve watched over the decades. It astounds me when I consider the amount of time…

Don’t mind me…I am settling in for a few more days of pure pleasure and amazement…

A Few Odd Thoughts

As I write this, the 9 or 10 inches of snow that arrived last weekend is slooooowly melting but there is still a ways to go before it is gone. We are currently below freezing and while the sun is out the outside temperature is somewhere around 16 degrees and not exactly encouraging anyone to be out and about.

Truthfully, this could very well be the new norm for winter around here.

In the last couple of decades I’ve watched the weather patterns shift. What used to be rather quiet has become a bit more severe while the quiet has moved south or east, depending.

Taking January to rest, regroup, rethink, recover has been a blessing. Many folks have not had that privilege. Others have discovered that it was not just a blessing but necessary to retain, or recover, their sanity.

My efforts here are to provide a place of peace and quiet. I look to offer respite from the chaos and insanity. It is my way of being one of the Helpers that Mr. Rogers talked about. I hope you find the space to sit back and focus on something that might be silly, thought provoking, and maybe peaceful. A healing spot, if you will.

Recently Glen and Friends Cooking over on YouTube started experimenting with rough puff pastry and the results have been…encouraging. I especially enjoyed his Cooking Without A Recipe video. “He’s playing with his food, again!” came to mind as I watched. (I love it when folks feel comfortable enough in the kitchen to do that!) I think the end result was a good one and worthy of trying again.

Also over on YouTube, Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny was a pleasant surprise. It is one of those few podcasts that I hope to follow for a very long time.

I’m thinking more about Vintage these days and it appears I am not alone. There is value to looking back to see how folks used to do things. I’m noticing folks making the choices to try some things for themselves.

While I don’t know that I feel like it is time for February, the calendar has other ideas and it might be a nice change of pace to try different flavors. I love chocolate but… 😀

As we head into February and start to think about Spring and maybe a garden, January’s exit might actually be a welcome one. I don’t know about you but I feel the need to air out the house. Well, maybe not quite yet but soon.

January has been a very slow month for me. Intentionally so. I took time to rest, to reconnect, to disconnect, to think, and to make some decisions (choices?) about what I want to do next.

A lot of the folks I follow on YouTube have done the same. So have a lot of folks I follow who are not on YouTube. Frankly, I think the world just needs a bit of Something Else.

I have projects in my home that have been sitting on the sidelines for longer than anyone cares to consider. Even, okay especially, me.

I have a new kitchen toy that I want to start learning to use but I also have a lot of older kitchen toys that have not been used and should find new homes. As I have very limited space, it is important that I tackle the space issue soon. And why keep things that I no longer use?

I could say that this came about because of a new program Mr. Carrington has devised for his home, I think he is referring to it as ‘Sort my home’ or some thing similar. He can tell you more about it if you visit his YouTube channel.

I like the idea of taking January to ease into a year rather than turning it into an overwhelming time where there is pressure to make decisions, choices, changes before we have had a chance to really think things through.

Here’s to taking the time to figure out our next steps!

Real Vintage Dolls House recently posted a lovely video that I think is a great reminder of what each of us can do in the season or out of it.

A smile costs nothing and is priceless. Time is a gift. Kindness is precious.

Remember: Sometimes the greatest magic isn’t in the presents, but in the hearts we touch

It is easy to get busy and forget about the simply joys of gathering with friends and family. Spending time with the community and sharing simple pleasures are those memories that cost little but are priceless.

Enjoy Hannah & Chris as they chat. I’ll bet you find a grin on your face, too.

😀